Finishing Elden Ring leaves many players with the same question echoing in their mind: what to play after Elden Ring when nothing else feels hard enough. After conquering the Lands Between, mastering brutal boss fights, and surviving relentless combat, most games suddenly feel too forgiving.
If you’re chasing that same sense of danger, mastery, and satisfaction, this guide is built for you. Below, we explore the best games to play if you’re wondering what to play after Elden Ring and want more challenge, not less. These games reward patience, punish mistakes, and demand skill, just like Elden Ring did.
Why Elden Ring Raises the Bar for Difficulty
Before answering what to play after Elden Ring, it’s important to understand why the game feels so hard to follow. Elden Ring blends open-world freedom with classic Soulslike punishment. You are never fully safe, and progress is earned through learning enemy patterns, managing resources, and improving mechanically.
Unlike many modern games, Elden Ring respects the player enough to let them fail repeatedly. That design philosophy is what many players crave once the credits roll. The games below embrace that same mindset.
What to Play After Elden Ring If You Want More Challenge
Below is a carefully ranked list of games that scratch the same itch. This is the only numbered list in the article and focuses entirely on difficulty, depth, and skill-based gameplay.
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Dark Souls III
If you’re asking what to play after Elden Ring, Dark Souls III is the most natural next step. As a direct predecessor, it features tighter level design, relentless enemy placement, and some of the hardest boss fights FromSoftware has ever created. Without the open-world flexibility of Elden Ring, Dark Souls III feels more focused and, in many ways, more punishing. -
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
For players who want pure mechanical challenge, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is often considered harder than Elden Ring. There are no builds to hide behind and no summoning to soften fights. Victory depends entirely on timing, reflexes, and mastery of parrying. If Elden Ring taught you patience, Sekiro demands perfection. -
Bloodborne
Another FromSoftware masterpiece, Bloodborne shifts the formula toward aggressive combat. Shields are almost nonexistent, healing encourages risk, and enemies punish hesitation. For players wondering what to play after Elden Ring who want faster, deadlier combat, Bloodborne is essential. -
Nioh 2
Nioh 2 offers an overwhelming level of depth. Stance-based combat, complex loot systems, and brutal enemy encounters make this one of the most demanding action RPGs available. Unlike Elden Ring, Nioh 2 rewards technical mastery and build optimization over exploration. -
Lies of P
A modern Soulslike standout, Lies of P delivers tight combat, challenging bosses, and a dark, oppressive atmosphere. Its parry-focused mechanics punish mistakes harshly, making it a great answer to what to play after Elden Ring if you want difficulty without sacrificing presentation. -
Mortal Shell
Mortal Shell may be shorter than Elden Ring, but it is no less punishing. With limited healing, cryptic progression, and deliberate combat, Mortal Shell forces players to commit to every action. It’s ideal for those who want challenge in a more compact experience. -
Hollow Knight
For players open to 2D games, Hollow Knight is often recommended when discussing what to play after Elden Ring. Its boss fights, platforming precision, and late-game difficulty rival anything in the Souls genre. The game demands patience, exploration, and mechanical skill in equal measure. -
Remnant II
Blending Soulslike mechanics with third-person shooting, Remnant II offers challenging bosses, stamina-based combat, and punishing enemy encounters. Difficulty scales aggressively, making it a strong option for players who want challenge with a different combat style.
How These Games Compare to Elden Ring’s Difficulty
When thinking about what to play after Elden Ring, difficulty alone isn’t enough. What matters is why the game is difficult. Elden Ring balances challenge with freedom, allowing players to explore, level up, and approach problems creatively.
Games like Sekiro remove that safety net entirely. Dark Souls III compresses difficulty into tightly designed paths. Nioh 2 overwhelms players with systems and execution demands. Each game on this list challenges players in a different way, ensuring Elden Ring veterans still feel tested.
What to Avoid If You Want the Same Level of Challenge
After Elden Ring, many open-world RPGs feel shallow by comparison. Games with heavy hand-holding, excessive checkpoints, or forgiving combat loops often fail to satisfy players seeking true difficulty.
If your main goal is challenge, avoid games that prioritize spectacle over systems. Elden Ring’s difficulty comes from mechanics, not inflated numbers. The best follow-up games respect that philosophy.
Is There Anything Harder Than Elden Ring?
For many players, Sekiro is the ultimate test. Without builds, co-op, or over-leveling, it represents FromSoftware’s most uncompromising design. However, difficulty is subjective. Some players find Bloodborne harder due to its aggression, while others struggle more with Nioh 2’s complexity.
The key takeaway when deciding what to play after Elden Ring is understanding what kind of challenge you want: mechanical, strategic, or endurance-based.
Why the “Post-Elden Ring Void” Is Real
Elden Ring redefined expectations for action RPGs. Its scale, freedom, and difficulty created an experience that’s hard to replicate. That’s why so many players search for what to play after Elden Ring rather than simply moving on.
The games listed here don’t copy Elden Ring, they challenge you in new ways while respecting the same core values: mastery, persistence, and earned victory.
Final Thoughts on What to Play After Elden Ring
If you’re wondering what to play after Elden Ring and want more challenge, the answer depends on how you want to be tested. Whether it’s Sekiro’s precision, Dark Souls III’s relentless design, or Hollow Knight’s punishing bosses, these games ensure your skills won’t go to waste.
Elden Ring may have ended, but the pursuit of challenge doesn’t have to. The path forward is just as brutal, and just as rewarding.